While at times the "voice" of the narrator seemed a bit too precocious, the characterization overall in this novel is complex and interesting. Some of the "gimmicks" were slightly distracting, but did add to the depth of understanding of the protagonist's mental quirks. The parallel story of his ancestors was sometimes confusing and I felt that some questions were left unanswered, but all in all this was a very satisfying book, one I even want to read again.